Automatic coin controlled parking device



Y 39 19%. H. L. LONG ET AL AUTOMATIC COIN CONTROLLED PARKING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1936 6 Sheets-$heei 3.

INVENTOR HARP) L.0/V6 HZAMANS. Jay/us v v y AUTOMATIC COIN CONTROLLED PARKING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR f/ARRY L. LONG y 3, 1940. H. L... LONG ET AL 2,209,249

AUTOMATIC COIN CONTROLLED PARKING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HARRY L. LONG July 23, 394% H LQNG ET AL 22(99249 AUTOMATIC COIN CONTROLLED PARKING DEVICE Filed April l6,' 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO HAR/QYL. LO JVG AZ-WMAN 5. JOHNS ly H. LONG- ET AL 2.209249 AU'.T.-'OMA'IIG COIN CONTROLLED PARKING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 fill M 46 x5 1 -11.

. Q 4 fi 3 4 [1 4k 6 g 472 47 1 7/ 47 66 4'5- 2 70 65 I I 37 I do in 2a 1 -12. A35 30 1: 14 46 A36 If M g 3 July 23, 1940. LONG ET AL 2.209249 AUTOMATIC COIN CONTROLLED PARKING DEVICE Patented July 23, 194i) UNITED STATES.

AUTOMATIC com oomomun' PARKING DEVICE Harry L. Long and Herman S. Johns, Oklahoma City, Okla., assignors, by direct and mesne assigmnents, of three-fourths to said Long and one-fourth to Walter M. Sturges, klahoma City, Okla.

Application April 16, 1936, Serial No. 74,772

14 Claims.

Our invention relates to devices for timing and collecting a revenue upon vehicle parking Space. a g

The prime object of any parking meter is, of course, to relieve or prevent traffic congestion. One of the most common faults of previously designed parking devices is that an observer may ascertain at a glance how much, if any, unused parking time remains paid for after a preceding vehicle has moved out of the parking space. This has caused it to become common practice for persons seeking parking space to cruise about until they can find a parking space having considerable unused time remaining, in order that they may park for the remaining time without the deposit of a coin. The outcome oi such prac tice isnot only a partial failure of the devices to eficiently curtail trafic congestion, but also results in a failure to produce their legitimate amount of revenue. In some instances such devices actually increase tramc congestion by increasing the number of cruising vehicles. Observation has shown that many persons double park and leave their cars in order to ascertain the amount of unused parking time. course adds to traflic congestion. k Our device is so designed that it is impossible to determine the' amount of unexpired parking time. Therefore, a person entering a parking space which has unused parking time will deposit his coin in order to preclude the possibility of the device showing him over-parked p rhaps a minute after his back is turned. 1

The prime objects of our invention, therefore, are the prevention or cruising in order to find unused space which has previously been pur chased; and, the collection of a maximum legltlmate revenue. y

secondary objects of the invention include: simplicity in construction; visibility during park.

ing time of the last inserted coin; visibility of' and its replacement by another before the entire parking time has expired; removal of the coneplete internal mechanism as a unit; ease in re placement of parts; compactness; emciency; and,

durability.

The inventive idea, as limited by the appended claims, is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that specifically shown in the accompanying six sheets or" drawings which are made a part hereof.

In the drawings:

This of.v

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of the device with the signal in a signalling position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from a radial point lying one hundred and eighty degrees from that at which Fig. 1 is taken, the signal being shownin a non-signalling position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the upper portion of the device taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the signal being shown in a signalling position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, taken from a similar radial position, and showing the lower portion of the device, the driving mechanism being shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the driving mechanism shown in Fig. 4 and looking toward Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational View of the' upper portion of the housing as shown in Fig. 6, the signal and its operating mechanism being removed, and the locking mechanism being shown in an un-locked position;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner face of the locking mechanism, taken substantially along a plane represented by the line 9 of Fig. 6, the full lines showing the lock in its locked position, and the dotted-lines represent ing it in its unlocked position;

i Fig. 10 is an elevational sectional view looking toward the right hand and taken substantially along a plane represented by the line ill oi Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but taken substantially along aplane represented by the line H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12-is a view similar to Figs. 10 and 11 but taken substantially along a plane represented by the line 52 of r g. 3, with the signal being shown in its non-signalling position and a fragment of the upper portion of the'housing for the driving mechanism being shown inelevation;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to and taken substantially in the same plane as Fig. 10, with the signal Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially along the deformed line 14-14 of 1 Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l5--l5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a slightly different embodiment of the signal than that shown in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of the signal taken substantially along the line |1-l1 of Fig. 16: and.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 16 of Fig. 4.

One practical embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings includes:

A substantially tubular post I which acts as a housing for a portion of the mechanism, and which at its lower' end, not shown, is adapted to be rigidly mounted in a suitable base, such as a concrete slab, adjacent each parking space. Upon the upper end of the housing I is removably mounted a hollow head or signal housing 2 having at one side a coin receiving slot 3, (Figs. 1, 6 and 8), of a size barely suflicient to permit the passage of a disc-like token, slug, or a coin l of a certain diameter and thickness, and having at its other side a suitable key operated locking mechanism 5. The head 2 is equipped at its upper end with a" hollow preferably cylindrical dome 6 of a suitable transparent material such as glass, which is cemented or otherwise rigidly attached in a permanent manner to the head. The upper end of the dome 6 is closed. The head 2 has an upper comparatively thick body portion I and therebelow a depending annular sleeve portion 6 adapted to surround and closely fit, in a removable manner, the upper end of the housing I.

The locking mechanism 5 preferably includesa tubular body 9 held by'a nut in within a lateral through bore in the sleeve portion 8 of the head 2. A key operated rotatable keeper havingupon its inner end an arcuate surfaced shoe Ii is mounted within the body 9. 'Attached at one of its ends to the interior wall of the head 2 by a stud-bolt I2 is a strap-like depending metal spring 13 having a through slot 14 located in such 'a manner that the shoe 1.1 when in a vertical position registers therein. The spring is adapted to be forced away from the inner surface of the head by rotation of the shoe Ii into a horizontal position. The lower end of the spring 13 is provided with a latch l5 adapted to become engaged within a perforation 16 in the upper end of the housing 2' when the shoe ii is in registration with the slot 14, and adapted to be forced out of such engagement upon partial rotation of the shoe.

The upper end i1 of the head 2 is equipped with a central through perforation 18. Around one side of the perforation and-within the head is a substantially hemi-cylindrlcal depending element l9 integral with the nether or inner surface of the end I1 (Figs. 3 and 15). As may best be seen in Fig. 3, the element l3 and the sleeve portion 8 of the head are transversely and aligncally extending edges 22 and 23 which lie in a single plane (Figs. 8 and 15). An assembly of parallel vertically extending spaced plates 24, 25,

26, and 21 which are preferably held together in their spaced relation by usual hollow rivets 29, are fastened to the edges 22 and 23 of the element 19 by a plurality of stud-bolts 30, 3| 32 and 33 which pass through the hollow rivets (Figs. 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, ll, 12, 13 and 15). The space lying between the plates 24 and 25 is represented by the reference numeral 34, the space between the plates 25 and 26 by the numeral 35, and the space between the plates 26 and 21 by the numeral 36 (Figs. 4 and 14). i

A tubular sleeve 31, having oppositely disposed outstanding ears 38, has its upper end disposed within the perforation lB in the upper end 11 of the head 2; and the ears are bolted rigidly to plate 24 and the edges 22 and 23 of the element 19, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6.

. A. substantially cylindrical plug or signal 40 rigidly mounted upon the upper end of laterally spaced guide rods 4! is reciprocatably positioned within the sleeve 31 and is adapted for upward movement into the transparent dome 6. The guide rods are slidably disposed in aligned perforations in spaced outwardly extending ears 42 carried by the outer face of the plate 24 and lying within an arcuate cavity 43 (Fig. 15) bounded by the plate 24 and the element Hi. The signal and one of the guide rods may best be seen in Figs. 3 and 14.

The signal 40 preferably consists substantially of a bottom or base element 44, two oppositely disposed integral sidestrips 45, and a top 46 supported by and preferably integral with the upper ends of the side strips. A laterally extending through opening 41 is thus formed between the side strips and the top and base of the signal. The'adjacent inner faces of the two side strips are provided with vertical slots 48 of a width sumcient to barely receive the coin 4, and the slots are spaced from each other sufliciently and are aligned so that the slots, after which it may be moved upwardly into a position in which it is visible-through the opening 41. The slots 48 are in alinement with the, space 36 between the two plates 26 and 21, and

oin may be inserted in the therefore a coin if moved upwardly from within the space 36, will pass into the slots (Figs. 3 and 14). The coin slot 3 (Figs. 1, 6 and 8) is so located in the head 2 that a coin inserted therein will pass into the space 36. A guide strip 43 rigidly attached to the plate 26 and lying within the space 36, is provided for co-acting with a pin 56 (Figs. 10 and 13) also carried by the plate 26, in limiting downward movement of the coin within the space 36.

Connected to the outer face of the plate 21 by a stud b'olt or bolts 51, is a spring element 52. The lower portion of the element 52 lies flatly along the outer face of the plate 21 and at a vertical point adjacent the pin is bent laterally formed of spring material, if the coin is forced upwardly in the space 36 it will force the upper end 56 of the element away from the plate 26 and Nil will then pass upwardly into the grooves 48. It the coin is lowered from itsposition within the signal, the upper end of the element 52 acts to prevent its entry into the space 35, and the coin travels downwardly through the opening 55 in the plate 21 and along the outer face of the portion 54 of the element 52. The outer face of the portion 54 of the element 52 is provided at each side edge with an upstanding wall 51 which con fines the downward travel of the coin to a path lying along the portion 54.

As may best be seen in Figs. 3 and 15, a coin container 58 is removably held within the lower portion of the head 2 and within the upper portion' of the housing I by a spring bracket 59 which is rigidly mounted upon the outer face of the plate 21. The container 58 has a removable lid 60 having an upstanding coin receiving chute M which lies below and in alignment with the portion 54 of the element 52 and which is adapted to receive downwardly traveling coins therefrom. The chute projects inwardly past the top of the lid and its inner end has a passage barely large enough to permit the coin 4 to enter the container. This precludes the likelihood of a person making collections from the device shaking any of the coins out of the container through the chute. A gummed seal 62 may be used to seal the lid to the container so that a collector will merely replace a'filled or partially filled container with an empty one.

In the description hereinabove no mechanism has been described for selectively raising and lowering either the coin or the signal. Such mechanism will next be described.

Within the space 35 lying between the plates 25 and 25 is provided a vertically slidable strip 65 (Figs. 3, '7, 10, 11,- 12, 13, 1s and 15) to the upper end of which are rigidly attached two spaced blades 69' which project through longitudinal slots 61 in the plate 26 and extend into the space 35 a sufilcient distance to contact and raise or lower. any coin which might be supported within the space 36. The upper end of the portion 55 of the spring element 52 is provided with a pair of spaced vertical slots one of which is indicated by the reference numeral 68 (Fig. 14) which permit vertical reciprocation of the blades 65 therepast without movement of the upper end 56 of the element 52. The strip 65 is preferably made of spring steel and is so formed that its inherent tendency is to normally hold its upper end as far as possible away from the plate 25 and toward the plate 26. This insures engagement of the blades 55 beneath the lower periphery of a coin t when the coin is supported within the space 36 by the previously described guide strip 59 and the pin 55, and also permits the strip 55 to be sprung toward the plate 25 in order that the blades tit may move downwardly past a coin supported as above described within the space 35. This movement is best illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. lei.

The base element M of the signal it is provided with a through passage it of a size sufhcient to permit the passage therethrough of the coin and at one side of the passage the base is equipped with two spaced grooves ii each adapted to receive one of the blades 55 (Figs. 10, ii, 12, i3 and 14). Each of the grooves it has an abruptly closed upper end which is contacted by one of the blades 55 in its upward travel, and therefore the signal is forced to travel upwardly when the strip 55 is moved to the upper end of its stroke. The signal 40 is also lowered when the strip 65 is lowered.

Description of the operation of the mechanism thus far described hereinabove will next be given, it being necessary to first concede that a mechanism, which will be fully described hereinbelow, may be provided by which the strip 65 may be caused to move upwardly upon the insertion of a coin 4, and may be caused to drop instantly after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and during which time the strip has been held at the upper end of its stroke. It will also be necessary to concede that a mechanism may be provided wherein the insertion of a coin during the period in which the strip 65 is held at the upper end of its stroke will cause the'strip to drop and after reaching the bottom of its stroke to again be raised to the upper end of its throw and be held there for another period of time.

When a coin 4 is inserted within the slot 3 in the head 2, it passes into the space 36 and thence passes downwardly along the guide strip 49 to a point where it is supported between the pin 50 and the lower end of the strip 49. Consider that at the time of the insertion of the coin, the spring strip 65 is at the lower end of its permitted travel, and therefore the upper ends of the blades 66 are lying below the coin, also consider that in reaching the pin 50, a power mechanism is placed in operation by the coin todrive the strip 65 upwardly.

The upper ends of the blades 66 will engage the bottom periphery of the coin 4 and will force the coin upwardly into the grooves 43 in the signal ill. As the coin passes the upper end 55 of the spring element 52, said end will be forced outwardly by contact with the coin, and the coin will therefore be permitted to pass by the end 56 and to enter said grooves 48. As the blades 65 reach the upper closed ,ends of the grooves H, the signal will be engaged and will be forced to move upwardly with the strip 65. At the instant of contact between the blades and the closed ends of the grooves i i, the coin will reach a position within the signal at which it may be fully seen through the opening d'i in the signal. The mechanism for driving the strip 55 upwardly is so arranged that the strip is held in its raised position until the lapse ofa predetermined period of time, or until another coin is inserted, at either of which times the strip 55 will be dropped or driven in a substantially instantaneous manner to the lower end of its throw. In either event, the coin which was being held within the signal will when lowered, contact the upper end 55 of the spring element 52 and will be forced thereby out of engagement with the blades 55, at which time it will gravitate along the portion 55 of the element 52 and will be deposited through the chute ti into the container 5t.

The driving mechanism is so controlled that if the strip reaches the lower end of its throw before a second coin has been inserted into the device, the strip will remain in its lowered position until a second coin is deposited. However, if the second coin is inserted at a time the signal and a previously inserted coin are in raised positions, the second coin in reaching the pin 5d and the lower end of the guide strip it, will actuate the driving mechanism to lower the strip in the manner above described. In this instance the strip in its downward travel will be moved by the second coin coming in contact with the blades 85, away from the plate 25 so that the blades may pass the coin in their downward travel. When the strip 65 has reached the lower end of its throw, its movement will be reversed and the second .coin will be raised into I the signal and the signal will be raised as above described with relation to the first coin.

The driving mechanism and its control apparatus will next be described. The driving mechanism, as may best be seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, consists substantially of the following described structure:

The previously described plates 24, 25 and 26 extend downwardly within the housing I to a point lying adjacent the bottom of Fig. 4. The lower end of the"plate 2I terminates slightly below the lowermost one of the stud-bolts 32 as shown in the upper portion ,of Fig. 4. A horizontally disposed plate 15 is firmly attached to the plate 26 by an L-shaped bracket or brackets I6 and the plate has a central substantially rectangular aperture, not shown, v through which the plates 24, 25 and 26 extend. The horizontal plate I5 acts to assist the previously described spring bracket 59 in supporting the coin container 58, and also tends to protect the mechanism therebelow from falling particles of rust, dust,-and the like.

Attached to the portions of the plates 24, 25

I and 26 lying below the horizontal plate I5 by a plurality of suitable bolts II are three plates I8, I9 and 80 which lie parallel to the plates 24, 25 and 26 and which are spaced therefrom by tubular spacers or hollow rivets 8|. The space lying between the plate I8 and the plate. 24 is represented by the reference numeral 82, that lying between the plates 26 and I9 is indicated by the numeral 03, and the space between the plates I9 and 00 is shown as 04 (Fig. 4). Oppositely disposed brackets 05 are rigidly attached to the outer faces of the plates I8 and 80, and the brackets are in turn connected rigidly to the inner wall of a tubular sleeve86. The horizontal .plate I5 contacts the upper ends of the sleeve 86 and the plates I8, I9 and 80. The lower ends of the plates I8 and 80 are equipped with out- Wardly extending flanges 8'! which are firmly attached to a disc-like horizontal bottom plate 88 which fits snugly within but is not attached to the bottom of the sleeve 81. Around the various bolts II and between the plates 24, 25 and 26 are provided a plurality of spacers 89 which act to hold the plates rigidly parallel.

Lying between the plates I9 and 80 and within the space 84 is a spring driven power unit adapted to raise and lower the previously described spring strip for raising and lowering the coin 4 and the signal 40. The power unit consists substantially of a convolute spring 90 (Fig. 18), within a hollow cylindrical spring housing 9I. The end of the housing lying adlament the plate 80 is open and its opposite end which is also open is rigidly attached to the face of a driving pinion 92. The pinion 92 is rotatably mounted upon a stationary axle 93 secured at its ends to the plates I9 and 00. As' best seen in Fig. 18, the inner end of the spring is secured to a pin 94 carried by the inner face of the plate 80 and lying adjacent the axle 93. The convolutions of the spring surround the axle 93 and the outer end thereof is riveted or otherwise rigidly attached to the inner wall of the spring housing. The spring is so disposed that it is adapted after being wound, to drive the pinion and housing in a clockwise direction, looking toward the plate 'I9 from the plate 80, and as indicated by arrows in Figs. 4 and 5.

A speed increasing gear train is driven by the drive pinion 92 and consists substantially of the following described elements: a gear 95 meshing with the drive pinion 92 and rotatable upon a stationary shaft 96 carried by the plates I9 and 80; a smaller gear 91 meshing with the gear 95 and rigidly connected to a shaft 98 adjacent one end thereof, the shaft 98 being journaled for rotation in the plates I9 and 80, and adjacent its opposite end having a rigidly mounted ratchet gear 99; a larger gear I00 rotatable upon the shaft 98 and held in place adjacent the inner face of the ratchet gear 99 by a tubular spacer IOI; oppositely disposed pivotally mounted dogs I02 (Fig. 5) and a spring I03, the dogs and spring with the spring acting to urge the dogs into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 99 so that rotation of the ratchet gear in a clockwise direction will cause rotation of the gear I00 in a similar direction, but permitting anti-clockwise rotation of the ratchet gear without its imparting rotative movement to the gear I00; 9. small gear I04, meshing with the gear I00, and a larger gear I05, the gears I04 and I05 being rigidly mounted upon a rotatable shaft I06 journaled in the plates I9 and 80; a small gear I0'I, meshing with the gear I05, and a larger gear I09, both rigidly mounted upon a rotatable shaft I09 joumaled in the plates I9 and 80; 'a small gear IIO, meshing with the gear I08, and

a'larger gear III, both rigidly mounted upon a rotatable shaft II2 journaled in the plates I9 and 80; and, a small gear II3 meshing with the gear III and rigidly mounted upon a rotatable shaft II4 joumaled at one end in the plate 80, passing through the plates I9, 26 and 25, and being journaled at its other end in the plate 24.

The portion of the shaft II4 lying between the plates I9 and 24 receives a rigidly attached governor fan H5, and a portion of each of the plates 25 and 26 surrounding the shaft H4 is cut away, as indicated in Fig. 7 by the reference numeral II6, to permit free rotation of the fan .with the shaft II4. Air resistance governs the speed of rotation of the fan, and since the gear train increases the comparative speed of rotation of the shaft I I4 over the rotative speed of the driying gear 92, it also decreases the rotative power of the shaft I I4. Consequently operation of the entire gear train may be stopped by a slight touch upon the fan II5. .As will be more fully described hereinbelow, automatic control of movement of the fan is utilized as a medium for raising and lowering the signal 40.

Lying within the space 93 adjacent the inner face of the plate I9, and rigidly connected to the inner end of the previously described shaft I06, is a rotatable disc I II. A side rod or link I I8 has its lower end pivotally connected by a pivot pin II9 to the inner face of the disc II'I adjacent the periphery thereof. The upper end of the link H8 is provided with a transversely perforated enlarged boss I20. The boss I 20 is practically as thick transversely as the width of the space 83 but. has a loose working fit with the plates 26 and 'I9. Av floating pinion I2I rigidly connected to a short pin or shaft I22 (Figs, 4, 7, 10 and 13), which extends through a longitudinal slot I23 in the plate 26, is disposed within the space 35 between the plates 25 and 26, and the Referring now more particularly to Fig. 7, and secondarily to Figs. and 13, structure will be described wherein vertical reciprocation of the pinion I2I raises and lowers the previously described spring strip 65.

Lying within the space 35 parallel with and spaced slightly from the slot I23, and rigidly attached to the plate 25 is a stationary toothed rack I25, the teeth of which are at all times held in engagement with the floating pinion I2I by the confining effect of the slot I23 upon the pin I22. A vertically reciprocatable rack I26. is slidably mounted within the space 35 and its upward and downward movement is limited by two spaced outstanding guide pins I21 which are slidably received within a longitudinal through slot I26 in the plate 26. The pins I21 and the sides of the slot I28 act to hold the toothed edge of the rack I26 in positive engagement with the teeth of the pinion I2I.' As the pinion I2I is forced by the link II8 either upwardly or downwardly, it is forced bythe stationary rack I25 to rotate. Simultaneous rotation and vertical movement of the pinion |2I causes movement of the rack I26 in a similar direction at twice the speed at which the pinion I2I is moving vertically. Consequently, the rack I26 travels a distance equal to twice the vertical stroke of the upper end of the link H6. The upper end of the rack I26 is attached firmly to the lower end of the strip 65 by rivets or bolts I29. As long as the driving mechanism, which is driven by the spring 96, is in operation, the strip 65 will continuously reciprocate. Since, in order to obtain proper operation of the signal, it is necesesary to periodically hold the strip either at the upper or lower end of its stroke, it is necesary that the driving mechanism be periodically stopped and started. The mechanical structure by which this result is obtained will next be described.

Refer now particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, l3 and 154, in which the reference numeral I36 represents an actuating bar which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a shaft I3I supported at its ends by the plates 24 and 25. The bar I36 is rockably positioned within the space 34, and has at its lower end an arcuate fork I32 which partially surrounds the fan II5 in a manner best illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. Above the pin I3I, one edge of the actuating bar is formed with a projection I33 which rigidly supports a laterally extendng pin I34. The upper end of the bar I36 has a second projection I35 extending in a similar direction and having a rigidly supported pin I36 extending laterally thereto. The plates 25,

,26- and 21 are all provided with two aligned series I31 and I38 of slots through which the respective pins I34 and I36 extend from the space 34 through the spaces 35 and 36, and which permit a rocking movement of the bar I36 upon its pivot pin I3I. The slots I31 and I38 are best illustrated in Figs. '7 and 13. Intermediate its ends, the strip 65 is reduced in width at two vertically spaced shoulders I39 and I46 (Figs. '7 and 13), and the portion lying between these two shoulders is-therefore of greater width than the remainder .of the strip. The uppermost shoulder I39, is so located vertically that when the strip 65 is at the lower end of its stroke the shoulder lies below the pin I34, and the upper end of the bar I36 may therefore move toward the strip sufilciently to permit the engagement of one of the tines of the fork I32 with the fan II5 thus preventing rotation of the fan. The bar I36 is so balanced upon its pivot pin Ill that its normal position is one in which the fan is held by the fork against rotation. Therefore, when the strip 65 reaches the lowermost end of its stroke, the fan is stopped in its rotation.

The wide portion of the strip 65 is of such a width that, during either upward or downward movement of the strip, it comes in contact with the pin I34, and when such contact is made, the fork I32 is held clear of the fan II5 which is therefore permitted to rotate. The shoulder I46 is so located upon the strip.65 that when the strip is at the upper end of its stroke,'the shoulder is above the pin I34, and consequently the bar I36 is free to resume its normal position which causes the fork I32 toi stop rotation of the fan II5. a

As clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 13, when the actuating bar I36 is-in it's normal position as shown in Fig. 13, the pin I36 lies slightly nearer the lower end of the guide strip 49 than is the stationary pin 56. Consequently. when a coin is inserted within the slot 3 and moves downwardly along the guide strip, it meets the pin I36 and forces the upper end of the actuating bar I36 away from the guide strip before it comes to rest upon the pin 56 (Fig. 10). This movement of the actuating bar releases the fan to rotation and permits the power mechanism to operate! Operation of the actuating bar I36 and its coacting mechanism may be described substantially as follows:

' It has previously been described hereinabove how the power mechanism will continuously reciprocate the spring strip 65 as long as the mechanism is in operation. For the sake of description, consider first that the strip 65 is at the lower end of its stroke. The shoulder I39 is therefore below the pin I34 carried by the actuating bar I36, and the actuating bar is in its normal position (Fig. 13) which prevents rotation of the fan I515 and consequently thepower mechanism is l e. i l l A coin inserted within the slot 3 passes dovjnwardly along the guide strip 49 toward the stationary pin 56, and in its travel the coin contacts the pin I36 and forces the upper end of the actuating bar away from .the lower end of the guide strip. This movement of the actuating bar causes the'fork I32 to release its contact with the fan II5 which permits the power mechanism to drive the spring strip upwardly to engage and raise the coin and signal 46 as previously described hereinabove. During upward travel of the spring strip 65, and before the upper ends of the blades 66 have contacted the coin, the wider portion of the strip 65 contacts the pin I34 and holds the actuating bar in such a position as to permit continued operation of the power mechanism after the coin has been-raised by the blades 66. While the wider portion of the strip 65 contacts the pin I34, the actuating bar I36 is held stationary until the lower shoulder I40 reaches a vertical position above the pin I34, at which time the actuating bar is permitted to resume its normal position and stop rotation of the fan II5. The spring strip 65, coin 4 and signal 46 are then at the upper ends of their permitted travel and are held in this position as long as the actuating bar remains in its normal position and the power mechanism therefore remains idle.

power mechanism to the lowerend of its stroke,

but since the coin is holding the upper end of the actuating bar against movement, the power mechanism will continue to operate and will again raise the strip 65 to the upper end of its travel, and the shoulder I40 will again reach a point above the pin I34 before the actuating bar is permitted to resume its normal position and stop rotation of the fan H5. The second upward movement of the strip 65 will of course raise the second coin and will re-raise the signal 40.

In the description hereinabove no structure has been disclosed whereby the strip 65 may be lowered from its raised position'when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after it has been raised. A description of this structure will now be given.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4. wherein is shown a second power mechanism 1o-- cated within the space 82 between the plates 24 and 18. This second mechanism is in fact a suitably designed clock works, and consistssubstantially of a spring housing I50 having a rigidly attached drive gear I5I. The mechanism for driving the previously described housing 9I and drive gear 92 is typical of that for driving the clock drive gear I5I and the housing I50 except that the gear I5I is driven by its spring in an opposite direction from the direction in which the gear 92 is driven. The gear I5I' drives a gear I52 and a ratchet gear I53 similar respectively to gears 91 and 99 of the previously described power mechanism. The ratchet gear I53 through its dogs drives gears I54, I55, I56, I51, I58, I59 and I60 which are similar except as .to gear ratio to the respective gears I00, I04, I05, I01, I08, 0 and III of the power mechanism. The gear I 60 drives a gear I 6| rigidly mounted upon-a shaft I62 which also carries a rigidly mounted escape wheel I63. A usual escapement lever I64, balance wheel I65, and hair spring I66 co-act in a usual manner to govern the speed of rotation of the entire clock mechanism.

, Reciprocatably mounted within the space 35 between the plates 25 and 26 is a toothed rack I61 (Figs. 4, 7, 10 and 13). The rack has two spaced perpendicular guide pins I68 and I69 which extend through a longitudinal slot I10 in the plate 25 and enter the'space 34 in which the actuating bar I30 operates. The rack is driven in an upward direction by a gear "I mounted within the space 35 upon a shaft I12 (Fig. 4), which is the shaft upon which the gears I55 and I56 of the clock mechanism are mounted. The gear I1I is held in frictional engagement with the shaft I12 by a resilient metal spider I13 which is rigidly connected to the shaft and the legs of which press against the face of the gear with sufli'cient force to raise the rack I61. The uppermost pin, I68, of the rack is located in such a manner that when it approaches the uppermost end of its throw, it engages a hook I14 carriedby the actuating bar I 30 and moves the lower end of the bar to disengage the fork I32 from the fan II5, thus starting operation of the power mechanism. It will be understood, of course, that the two reciprocating racks I26 and I61 are both within the space 35, and lie in a common plane. The clock mechanism is in continuous operation and consequently the gear "I is continuously' forcing the rack I61 in an upward direction. The rack I61 is moved from the uppento the lower end of its throw against the frictional engagementof the spider I13 with the gear I1l in the following described manner.

As best shown in Fig. 7, the rack I61 is provided with a plurality of spaced bores I16 which pass edgewise therethrough and each of which is adapted to receive a tapered pin I16 which is of sumcient length to project through the rack and into the path of the lower end I18 of the first 5 rack I26. The pin I16 may be selectively position'ed in any one of the bores I15 and its vertical location determines the distance in a downward direction which the rack I61 will be moved by the contact ofv the rack I26 with the pin I16.

The bores I15 are spaced in the rack I61 in directproportion to the time required for the clock mechanismto raise the rack a given distance.

For instance, if the pin were placed in the lowermost of the bores the rack I61 would be lowered only partially upon engagement of the pin I16 by the lower end I18 of the rack I26, thus requiring only fifteen minutes for the clock mechanism to drive the rack upwardly a suflicient distance for the pin I68 to engage the hook I14 and cause the 20 actuating bar I30 to release the power mechanism to operation, thus again lowering the racks I26 and I61. Qn the other hand, three hours would be required for the same operation if the pin I16 were inserted in the uppermost one of the bores I15. The bores may of course be spaced to accommodate any desired periods ofv time.

No structure has been described hereinabove for winding the spring 90, which drives the drive gear 92 of the power mechanism, nor for winding the similar spring which drives the gear I5I of the clock mechanism. Such structure will next be described.

Refer more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, wherein:

The reference numeral I represents a horizontally disposed shaft passing through and journaled for rotation in all pf the plates 16, 24, 25, 26 and 19, and having upon one end a polyhedronal key post I8I for receiving a key, not shown, whereby the shaft may be manually rotated in both directions. Within the space 84, meshing with the gear 92, and rotatable upon the shaft I 80, is a winding gear I82. Keyed or otherwise rigidly connected to the shaft I60 ad- ,iacent the outer face of the gear I62 is a ratchet gear I83. The outer face of the gear I82 is equipped with a pair of pivotally mounted dogs I64 which are urged by a spring I85 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear whereby rotation of the shaft I80 and ratchet gear I63 in a clockwise direction will impart similar rotation to the gear I82, and whereby rotation thereof in an opposite direction will permit the ratchet gear to turn without rotating the gear I62.

Within the space 82 the shaft I80 is equipped with a winding gear I66 meshing with the clock gear. I5I and rotatable upon the shaft. A ratchet gear I 81 is keyed to the shaft I80 adjacent the outer face of the gear I 86, and the ratchet gear is adapted through dogs, not shown, to drive .the winding gear I86 in a clockwise direction when the shaft I60 is similarly rotated. The dogs permit rotation of the gear I06 in an anticlockwise direction without imparting movement to the ratchet gear I81.

In winding the two power springs, the shaft I80 may be alternately turned in clockwise and anticlockwise directions, which will energize both springs.

In order to insert the winding key upon the post I8I, it is first necessary to unlock the housing 2 from the post I and raise the entire mechanism a distance suflicient to bring the socket above the upp r end of the post I. In order to hold the 75 mechanism inthls raised position, the outer face of the plate 80\(Fig. 4) is provided with a spring element I90 firmly attached at its lower end to the plate and the upper end of which has a latch |9I passing through a lateral perforation I92 in the sleeve 86. When the mechanism is raised suffioiently, the latch may engage the upper end of the post i and hold the mechanism in such position during the winding operation. 7

It is pointed out that although the power mechanism positively propels the strip 65 from its upper to its lower position, the signal 40 merely gravitates downwardly, and the power mechanism governs the speed at which the signal may gravitate. It is intended that the signal be vividly colored, except its upper end, so that it may be observed from considerable distances.

In Figs. 16 and 17 is illustrated an embodiment of the signal 40 in which the openings 41 for viewing the coin have been eliminated, the signal being solid except for the coin receiving slot. Thus, while we have shown and described two forms of our invention we are fully aware that many modifications are therefore possible; that the structure of the signal may be radically changed and that the mechanism may also bechanged in many respects' without departing from the spirit of the invention. For this reason it should be understood that the forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

We claim:

1. In a coin actuated signal, the combination with a driving mechanism and a signalling mechanism actuatable thereby to perform a signalling operation, of means for controlling operation of the driving mechanism, including; a pivotally.

mounted lever normally holding the driving mechanism against operation, a housing including means'for receiving a coin adjacent said lever, said lever being actuatable by a coin received in said housing to a-position to release said driving mechanism for actuation of said signalling mechactuatable by a coin to move mementarily from said biased position to a position to permit said signal moving means to move said signal to said observable position, said signal moving means including means operable to maintain said control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches said observable position, whereupon said control means is permitted to return to said biased position and hold said signal in said observable position, a timing element, and means associated with said timing element operable to move said control means from said biased position to permit said signal moving means to efiect'removal of said signal from said observable position after the lapse'of a predetermined period of time.

-3. The organization described in claim 2, wherein said signal moving means includes means for carrying the coin into said observable position .with the signal. I

4. The organization described in claim 2, and means for adjusting the setting of said timing element whereby the signalling period may be varied.

5. In a parking meter, a housing having a transparent portion, a signal movable into and out of observable position adjacent said transparent portion, driving means including a source of power operable to effect movement of the signal into and out of said observable position, control means biased to a position to restrain movement of said driving means, said control means being movable from said biased position by a coin to permit said driving means to move, said signal into said observable position, said driving means including means to maintain said control means out of saidbiased position until said signal reaches said observable position, timing means initiatable by said power means upon moving said signal into said observable position, and said timing means being operable upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time to move said control means from said biased position to permit said power means to effect movement of said signal out of said observable position.

6. In a parking meter, a signal, power means including a reciprocatable member for'moving said signal into signalling and non-signalling positions, control .means biased to a position to restrain operation of said power means, said control means being movable from said biased position by a coin to permit said power means to operate and move said signal, and said member being provided with a surface adapted to engage and hold said control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches said signalling or non-signalling position, the surface of said member operating thereafter to permit said control meansto return to said biased position so as to cause said power means to hold said signal stationary.

'7. In a parking meter, a signal, power means having a reciprocatable member for moving said signal into and out of signalling position, a timing element, said member being arranged to reset said element to initial position each time said member moves the signal out of signalling position, and to initiate a new timing period upon moving said signal into signalling position, control means biased to a position to restrain operation of said power means, said control means being movable from said biased position by a coin to permit said ower means to operate and move said signal igso signalling position, and

- said member having a surface adapted to hold said control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches signalling position, and said timing element having means operable upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time to move said control means from said biased position to permit said power means to move said signal out of signalling position, the surface of said member'being adapted to hold said control means out of said biased position until said signal is removed from signalling position.

8. In a parking meter, a signal having a recess for receiving and exposing a coinfor observation during a signalling operation, power means having a reciprocatable member for moving said signal into and out of signalling position, control means biased to a position to restrain operation of said power means, said control means being movable from-said biased position by a coin to permit said power means to operate and move said signal into signalling position, said member being arranged to effect movement of said coin into said signal during the operation of moving said signal into signalling position, and said member having means for holding said control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches signalling position. a

9. The organization described in claim 8, wherein said control means is movable from said biased position by a second coin, and means are provided for removing the first mentioned coin from said signal during the operation removing said signal out of signalling position.

10. In a parking meter, a signal, driving means for moving said signal into signalling and non-signalling positions, control means biased to a position to prevent operation of said driving means, said control means being movable from said biased position by a coin to permit operation of said driving means, said driving means and said control means having cooperating parts operable upon initial movement of said driving means to keep said control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches signalling or non-signalling positio 1, whereby said driving means is stopped by movement of said control means into said biased position, said control means being thereafter movable from said biased position to again permit operation of said driving means, timing means initiatable by movement of said signal into signalling position, and means actuatable by said timing means to move said control means out of biased position upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

11. In a parking meter, a signal, driving means for moving said signal into signalling and nonsignalling positions, control means biased to a position to prevent operation of said driving means, said control means being movable from said biased position by a coin to permit operation of said driving means, said driving means and said control means having cooperating parts operable upon initial movement of said.

driving means to keep said, control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches signalling or non-signalling position, whereby said driving means is stopped by movement of said control means into said biased position, said control means being thereafter movable from said biased position to again permit operation of said driving means, and saiddriving means including means for moving the coin with the signal into signalling position where said coin is observable. I

12. In a parking meter, a signal, driving means for moving said signal into signalling and nonsignalling positions, control means biased to a position to prevent operation of said driving means, said control means being movable from said biased position by a coin to permit operation of said driving means, said driving means and said'control means having cooperating parts operable upon initial movement of said driving means to keep said control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches signalling or non-signalling position, whereby said driving means is stopped by movement of said control means into said biased position, said control means being thereafter movable from said biased position to again permit operation of said driving means, said driving means including means for moving the coin with the signal into signalling position, a receptacle, and means for depositing the coin in said receptacle when said drivingmeans operates to move the signal out of signalling position.

13. In a parking meter, a signal, driving means for moving said signal into signalling and non-signalling positions, control means biased to a position to prevent operation of said driving means, said control means being movable from said biased positionby a coin to permit operation of said driving means, said driving means and said control means having cooperating parts operable upon'initial movement of said driving means to keep said control means out of said biased position until said signal reaches signalling or non-signalling position, whereby said driving means is stopped by movement of said control means into said biased position, said control means being thereafter movable from said biased position to again permit operation of said driving means, said signal being provided with a recess for receiving a coin for observation during a signalling period, said driving means including means for moving the coin into said recess during an operation moving said signal into signalling position, and means for removing the coin from said recess during an operation moving said signal into non-signalling position.

14. In a parking meter, a signal device, power means for conditioning said signal device for signalling and non-signalling purposes, a timing element, control means associated with said power means actuatable by a coin to permit said power means to conditionsaid signal device for signalling purpose and initiate operation of said timing element, said timing element having means operable upon the expiration of a predetermined period oftime to cause said control means to permit said power means to condition said signal device for non signalling purpose, said power means being provided with means operable when the signal device is conditioned for non-signalling purpose to reset said timing element preparatory to initiation of a new timing period, and said control means being actuatable by a second coin during a timing period to permit said power means to reset said timing element I and initiate a new timing period.

HARRY L. LONG. HERMAN S. JOHNS. 

